Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata envisaged not only Asia's first fully integrated Steel Plant but also the model township of Jamshedpur. He advised his son, Sir Dorab Tata, to earmark "areas for Football, hockey and Parks... ". Tata Steel's commitment to sports, in fact, preceded the building of the township. The aforesaid letter was written in 1902 and the site for Jamshedpur selected in 1907.

J. R. D. Tata gave fruition to J. N Tata's vision, inculcating sports as an integral part of Tata Steel's corporate philosophy. It is part of this very same commitment that made Tata Steel set up the Tata Steel Sports Foundation, to inculcate among the young men and women of India the sporting spirit, the zeal to excel, to win, and above all the discipline and dedication that brings out the winner in the individual. TFA, conceived in 1983 and inaugurated in 1987, was one intrinsic component of the Tata Ideal manifested in reality.

Today, Tata Football Academy is one of the premier football breeding grounds in India.